Chapter 1

On the first day of my sophomore year, Rachel Lawson, who had just been named the prettiest girl in her department, suddenly stopped me. "Shannon Shaw, I heard you and Lucas Grant grew up together?

"If I get picked as the freshman representative at the opening ceremony, will you let me have Lucas?"

The area under the welcome tent went dead silent.

I was about to say something.

Lucas, who'd been holding the umbrella for me, suddenly withdrew his hand.

His voice was icy, and his eyes brimmed with impatience and fatigue. "No need to wait for the opening ceremony. You can have me right now. Shannon, you're an adult now. Can you stop clinging to me all the time?"

Rachel was stunned for a moment, then shot me a smug grin. "So much for childhood sweethearts, huh?"

Lucas stayed silent.

Instead, he shoved my suitcase out of the way and took Rachel's light backpack from her.

Watching him walk away without a second thought, all those twelve years together suddenly made me feel sick.

If the fallen leaves were meant to follow the wind, then maybe it was time I found my own path too.

*****

I dragged my suitcase up to the fourth floor all by myself.

The suitcase was heavy, and its wheels kept clunking against the stairs with a dull thud.

My roommate, Nina Carter, heard the commotion and rushed down to give me a hand. "Where's your family? Why are you hauling all this stuff alone?"

I just smiled. "They're busy."

That wasn't really true.

My mom had called Lucas early that morning, saying I wasn't very strong and asking him to keep an eye on me.

May Wood said with a laugh over the phone, "With Lucas around, you guys can relax. He's always had Shanny's back since they were little."

But today, the one Lucas was looking out for wasn't me.

As I finished making my bed, my phone buzzed.

Lucas texted me, [Where's your dorm? I'll have Aunt May bring you a desk lamp.]

I glanced at it but didn't reply.

Ten minutes later, he messaged again, [Shannon, how long are you going to act like this?]

I set my phone face down on the bed.

Nina leaned over. "Is that your boyfriend?"

I replied calmly, "No, just a guy from back home."

Just then, Nina suddenly pointed out the window. "Wow, that senior is so handsome."

I followed her gaze down.

Downstairs, Lucas was bent over, picking up Rachel's luggage.

He carried two massive suitcases up the steps, one in each hand. Rachel stood beside him, handing him a bottle of water with a bright smile.

Lucas took it, twisted off the cap, and took a sip.

As I watched him drink from that bottle, my eyes burned a little.

For three years in high school, I must've offered Lucas a bottle of water a hundred times.

After basketball games, after competitions, after late-night study sessions.

Not once did he ever take it.

He'd always say, "Shannon, don't bother with that. Take care of your own stuff."

Guess it wasn't that he wouldn't take water from anyone else.

It was just that, for some reason, he never took it from me.

I lay down, facing the wall.

Nina thought I was tired and pulled the curtain closed for me.

In the darkness, I lay there with my eyes open.

My eyes stung.

Suddenly, it hit me, those twelve years felt like I'd been performing solo all along.

I had no classes that afternoon.

I went to the International Exchange Office.

The teacher checked the system for a while, looking a bit uneasy. "Shannon, the exchange student spot you gave up has already been reassigned to someone else.

"If you want to reapply, you'll need signatures from both the department head and your advisor.

"There's only one spot left, and the deadline is the fifteenth of next month."

I nodded. "Got it, thanks, sir."